Commuter rail
The Lowell, Haverhill and Newburyport lines all serve the valley. Station towns behave differently from their neighbors, so check the specific stop.
Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts
Bringing people home to the Merrimack Valley.
The river cities and the towns around them — mill buildings turned into housing, more room for the money, and a straight run up I-93 or I-495 toward New Hampshire.
Listings
Homes for sale in the Merrimack Valley
Orientation
Find your Merrimack Valley
The valley covers a lot of ground. Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill are cities with real downtowns and a growing amount of converted mill housing. Andover, North Andover, Boxford and Georgetown are more suburban and more expensive. Out at the coast, Newburyport and Salisbury feel closer to the North Shore than to the river.
People come here for space and value, and often for the New Hampshire line — it is close enough that plenty of households shop both sides of it. If you are doing that, we can help you compare honestly.
Highways
I-495 crosses the region, with I-93 running north and Route 128 to the south. The corridor carries a lot of employment as well as commuters.
The New Hampshire line
Several towns sit within a few miles of it, which changes the shopping radius for many buyers. Tax and cost differences are real but individual — we work them through case by case rather than quoting a rule.
Travel times depend on your route, your schedule and the day. We look at them with you rather than publishing an average.
Explore by map
See how the Merrimack Valley fits together
Hover or select a community to find it on the map, then open its page to explore homes and local guidance.
Municipal boundaries are shown for orientation. Region names reflect the way buyers commonly explore Massachusetts, not government districts.
Communities
A place to start in the Merrimack Valley
Begin with a few of the places that best express the region, then explore every community below.
Andover
Established neighborhoods and a walkable center
North Andover
Old Center, Lake Cochichewick and newer subdivisions
Haverhill
Mill-city downtown with a wide price range
Lowell
Canals, converted mills and city neighborhoods
Newburyport
Waterfront downtown at the mouth of the river
Chelmsford
Suburban town centers with easy 495 access
Methuen
Value-oriented housing right at the state line
Westford
Land, conservation trails and commuter access
All communities
Every city and town in the Merrimack Valley
Explore the cities and towns that make up the Merrimack Valley. If a place does not yet have its own guide, ask us for a local introduction.
Buying here
What to look at in the Merrimack Valley
Mill and loft conversions
Converted buildings are some of the most interesting housing in the valley. Read the condominium documents carefully — budgets, reserves, envelope repairs and parking arrangements vary widely between projects.
Well, septic and Title 5
Outside the cities, well water and septic systems are common. Massachusetts Title 5 requires a septic inspection for most transfers, and water testing is a sensible addition.
Buying across the state line
If you are comparing Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the differences run beyond price. We are licensed in both and can walk you through the practical side before you narrow your search.
Bean Group Team
Massachusetts Bean Group Team Members
Bean Group team members licensed in Massachusetts who work with buyers and sellers in the Merrimack Valley.
Sharon Bean
Executive PartnerReal Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Susan Penta
Real Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Rhonda Haley
Real Estate Agent
Licensed in Massachusetts (MA)
Common questions
Questions people ask about buying in Merrimack Valley
Which towns count as the Merrimack Valley?
The river cities — Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhill — plus the Essex and Middlesex towns north of the Merrimack and along the I-495 corridor, out to Newburyport and Salisbury at the coast. The full list is in the directory on this page.Do people commute to Boston from here?
Yes, mostly by commuter rail or I-93. It is a longer trip than the inner suburbs, which is part of why housing costs less per square foot.Should I also look in southern New Hampshire?
A lot of buyers here do. Bean Group works on both sides of the line, so you can compare the two without starting over with a different brokerage.
Thinking about the Merrimack Valley?
Tell us what you are looking for and we will point you at the right towns — including the ones you have not thought of yet.